The modern wellness industry often markets Yoga as a physical workout—a way to build core strength, increase flexibility, and sweat out the stress of the day. While these physical benefits are undeniably real, they represent only a fraction of what Yoga truly is. When you decide to embark on a Spiritual Side of Yoga Teacher Training, especially in a sacred place like India, you are stepping into a profound spiritual tradition that dates back thousands of years.
At Sanskar Yogashala in Rishikesh, we honor the ancient roots of this practice. Our curriculum is designed to guide students from the external gross body into the internal subtle body. If you are wondering what the Spiritual Side of Yoga Teacher Training actually entails, here is a deep dive into the awakening that awaits you in the Himalayas.
1. Moving Beyond the Physical Body (Asana as a Gateway)
In the West, “Yoga” is practically synonymous with “Asana” (the physical postures). However, in the traditional Eight Limbs of Yoga outlined by the sage Patanjali, Asana is merely the third limb.
- The True Purpose of Posture: The physical practice was not designed to give you a perfect body; it was designed to make the body comfortable and steady enough to sit in meditation for hours without distraction.
- Releasing Stored Trauma: On a Spiritual Side of Yoga Teacher Training level, the physical body holds onto emotional blockages and past traumas. Deep hip openers or intense backbends often trigger emotional releases. A TTC teaches you how to spiritually process these releases rather than just physically stretching through them.
- The Body as a Temple: At Sanskar Yogashala, you learn to treat the physical body with reverence—not as an object to be perfected, but as the sacred vessel that houses the soul (Atman).
2. The Science of Breath and Energy (Pranayama)
The Spiritual Side of Yoga Teacher Training journey truly begins when you shift your focus from the muscles to the breath. Prana translates to “vital life force energy,” and Yama means “control” or “expansion.”
- Connecting to the Universal: Pranayama is not just breathing exercises. It is the practice of connecting your individual life force with the universal life force.
- Calming the Fluctuations: Patanjali defines Yoga as Yogas chitta vritti nirodhah (Yoga is the stilling of the fluctuations of the mind). The breath is the steering wheel for the mind. By mastering ancient techniques like Nadi Shodhana (Alternate Nostril Breathing) during your TTC, you learn to biologically force the mind into a state of deep spiritual stillness.
- Awakening the Subtle Body: In our specialized Kundalini and Hatha TTCs, you will learn how breathwork clears the Nadis (energy channels) and balances the Chakras (energy centers), facilitating a direct spiritual awakening.
3. Philosophy and the “Why” of Yoga (Swadhyaya)
A massive component of the Spiritual Side of Yoga Teacher Training is the academic study of ancient Vedic philosophy. This is the practice of Swadhyaya—self-study and the study of sacred texts.
- The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: You will study the psychological framework of the human mind. You will learn about the Ego (Ahamkara), the intellect (Buddhi), and how to detach your true self from your transient thoughts.
- The Bhagavad Gita: This epic text teaches the yoga of action (Karma Yoga) and devotion (Bhakti Yoga). It forces you to ask profound Spiritual Side of Yoga Teacher Training questions: What is my duty (Dharma)? How do I act without attachment to the results?
- Dismantling the Ego: The philosophical study at Sanskar Yogashala is designed to dismantle the illusions of the ego, helping you realize that you are fundamentally connected to everything around you.
4. The Power of Mantra and Sound Vibration
Sound is considered one of the most powerful Spiritual Side of Yoga Teacher Training tools in the Indian tradition. During your training, you will be immersed in the practice of Mantra and Kirtan (devotional chanting).
- Vibrational Healing: Sanskrit is a vibrational language. Chanting mantras like “Om” or the “Gayatri Mantra” creates a specific resonance in the physical and energetic bodies. This resonance stimulates the pituitary and pineal glands, altering your state of consciousness.
- Bhakti Yoga (Devotion): Singing in a group (Kirtan) is a profound way to bypass the logical brain and open the heart center (Anahata Chakra). It is a joyous, communal expression of spirituality that brings many students to tears of relief and connection.
5. Living the Yamas and Niyamas (The Ethical Code)
The spiritual side of Yoga isn’t just what happens on the mat; it is how you live when you step off it. The first two limbs of Patanjali’s system are the Yamas (social ethics) and Niyamas (personal observances).
- Ahimsa (Non-violence): This is why ashram life includes a pure, Sattvic vegetarian diet. It is the spiritual practice of minimizing harm to other living beings.
- Satya (Truthfulness) & Aparigraha (Non-attachment): You will learn to apply these principles to your daily life, practicing radical honesty with yourself and letting go of the material attachments that cause suffering.
- A Total Lifestyle Shift: Living at Sanskar Yogashala means adopting these ethical codes 24/7. This immersive environment forces a spiritual detox, stripping away modern superficialities and returning you to a state of simplicity.
6. The Rishikesh Factor: Practicing in a Sacred Land
Finally, the spiritual side of your TTC is magnified exponentially by the location. Rishikesh is not just a city; it is a spiritual vortex.
- The Sacred Ganges: Practicing Yoga near the banks of the River Ganga carries an energetic weight. The river is revered as a living goddess of purification in Hindu culture.
- The Gurukula Tradition: At Sanskar Yogashala, you are not learning from fitness instructors; you are learning from Himalayan masters who have dedicated their lives to spiritual pursuit. This direct transmission of knowledge from teacher to student carries a distinct energetic blessing.
Conclusion: Becoming a Steward of the Tradition
The Spiritual Side of Yoga Teacher Training is the transformation from a person who does yoga into a person who lives Yoga. The physical postures will make you a good instructor, but the spiritual integration will make you a truly impactful teacher.
When you leave Sanskar Yogashala, you leave with a profound understanding of your own soul. You become a steward of an ancient tradition, fully equipped to guide others not just toward physical health, but toward spiritual liberation.
Are you ready to embark on a journey of the soul? Discover the spiritual depth of our Yoga Teacher Training courses at Sanskar Yogashala.